NCAA Tourney 2025

[CenHudDude]

7 hours ago, BLIKNS said:

Did any of them wear flowers in their hair?

Only the ones who went to SanFrancisco.

[TheA_Bomb]

On 3/29/2025 at 7:56 PM, Bay Area Billiken said:

Young Coach Todd Golden returns triumphantly to San Francisco.  We all know Texas never wins in California. 

Not sure how this is related, besides a personal shot at where I live for some reason. Perhaps because I challenged the emotional reasoning regarding conference records. 

Also Texas did win the 2005 Football National Championship in the Rose Bowl over USC.  Some call it the greatest CFB Championship game ever. 

[Bay Area Billiken]

15 minutes ago, TheA_Bomb said:

Not sure how this is related, besides a personal shot at where I live for some reason. Perhaps because I challenged the emotional reasoning regarding conference records. 

Also Texas did win the 2005 Football National Championship in the Rose Bowl over USC.  Some call it the greatest CFB Championship game ever. 

Two 6-12, .333 conference also-rans have no business being anywhere near the NCAA Tourney, and most certainly did not deserve NCAA at large bids irrespective of some rigged metric utilized to justify their presence. Ah but they both took $2M payable over 6 years back with them for their time and effort.

It was good to see a deserving team in #1 seed Florida reach the Final 4 from the Bay Area where its young coach was a player, assistant coach and head coach. 

[TheA_Bomb]

8 minutes ago, Bay Area Billiken said:

Two 6-12, .333 conference also-rans have no business being anywhere near the NCAA Tourney, and most certainly did not deserve NCAA at large bids irrespective of some rigged metric utilized to justify their presence. Ah but they both took $2M payable over 6 years back with them for their time and effort.

I agree the NET needs to be changed. 

However, conference records should not be a metric used.

-Conferences are not equal

-Conferences don't all schedule the same, so even if they were equal the results still wouldn't be

Therefore, it is not a useful metric for how good a team is relative to other teams in other Conferences. 

Is the committees job to put the best teams in the tournament? Yes, but it is also entertainment and if non P5 Conferences are squeezed out that undermines the entertainment. Therefore, they need to find a way that is objective. This is not it.

The logical conclusion of your argument is to limit the tournament to only conference winners, 31 team tournament. 

[HoosierPal]

1 hour ago, Bay Area Billiken said:

Two 6-12, .333 conference also-rans have no business being anywhere near the NCAA Tourney, and most certainly did not deserve NCAA at large bids irrespective of some rigged metric utilized to justify their presence. Ah but they both took $2M payable over 6 years back with them for their time and effort.

It was good to see a deserving team in #1 seed Florida reach the Final 4 from the Bay Area where its young coach was a player, assistant coach and head coach. 

Couldn't agree more.  If you can't win in your conference, find another conference. No reward for losing in a good conference.  

If 6-12 SEC teams can make the NCAA, what is wrong with Utah 8-12, Nebraska 7-13, Georgetown 8-12, Cincy 7-13, UCF 7-13, Villanova 11-9, and USC 7-13? 

[Bay Area Billiken]

https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/1906528639811784767

 

[Bay Area Billiken]

Kudos to billiken_roy for picking all 4 Final 4 teams, all #1 seeds.  I have 3 of the 4, could not bring myself to pick Duke on the principle of the matter grounds.  For me, no NCAA Tournament is complete until Duke is eliminated. 

[HoosierPal]

2 minutes ago, Bay Area Billiken said:

https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/1906528639811784767

 

Ha.  Jim Nantz, throwback days included caring about Graduation Rates and Academic Progress towards a degree.  

Yea, I remember those throwback days.  

[Bay Area Billiken]

I've read this year's NCAA Tourney is getting good TV ratings.  But man, with the entire Sweet 16 coming from the Football Power 4, this has to be the most boring tourney ever.  

[dlarry]

14 minutes ago, Bay Area Billiken said:

I've read this year's NCAA Tourney is getting good TV ratings.  But man, with the entire Sweet 16 coming from the Football Power 4, this has to be the most boring tourney ever.  

I think gambling drives the ratings. More people are watching because they can sit on their couch and place a wager from the comfort of their home. 

I watched a lot less this year and most people I know watched less too.

[billiken_roy]

3 hours ago, Bay Area Billiken said:

Kudos to billiken_roy for picking all 4 Final 4 teams, all #1 seeds.  I have 3 of the 4, could not bring myself to pick Duke on the principle of the matter grounds.  For me, no NCAA Tournament is complete until Duke is eliminated. 

ive been losing big picking from my heart and shunning hated programs.   since i had no interest in watching this year i just went with what the corrupt committee wanted me to pick.   ha big surprise.

[almaman]

8 hours ago, HoosierPal said:

Ha.  Jim Nantz, throwback days included caring about Graduation Rates and Academic Progress towards a degree.  

Yea, I remember those throwback days.  

when's last time one heard of player having to sit out because of grades ?

[TheA_Bomb]

Broome out warming up, arm looks fine for degenerate gamblers with concerns.

[billikenbill]

Walter Clayton Jr. is the best player in college basketball. Believe he was on the Iona team that torched us on the road.

Edit: Checked and he went for 20, 12, and 6.

[TheA_Bomb]

30 minutes ago, billikenbill said:

Walter Clayton Jr. is the best player in college basketball. Believe he was on the Iona team that torched us on the road.

Edit: Checked and he went for 20, 12, and 6.

UF passed and moved without the ball better than Auburn. Too much dribbling by Auburn then drive right into a defender.

Back and forth entertaining game

[billiken_roy]

Clayton had a marvelous game.   Both teams were incredibly physical.   I hate to see if that kind of "defense".  

First complete game I watched in the tournament.  I'm reminded by the type of defense, why I am losing interest in basketball.

Edited April 6 by billiken_roy

[willie]

1 hour ago, billiken_roy said:

Clayton had a marvelous game.   Both teams were incredibly physical.   I hate to see if that kind of "defense".  

First complete game I watched in the tournament.  I'm reminded by the type of defense, why I am losing interest in basketball.

I am sort of with you on the physical defense but if they weren’t physical scores would all be in the 100’s. Players are that good at scoring. The plays I can’t stand is how they let bigs back down players in the paint. Why those bumps aren’t charges is beyond me ,but that’s how it’s called. 

[White Pelican]

29 minutes ago, willie said:

I am sort of with you on the physical defense but if they weren’t physical scores would all be in the 100’s. Players are that good at scoring. The plays I can’t stand is how they let bigs back down players in the paint. Why those bumps aren’t charges is beyond me ,but that’s how it’s called. 

Thank you! I have NEVER understood that. If the defensive player tries to hold his ground and falls down, he'll either get a foul called on him or a warning for flopping. It's now been allowed for so long, I guess it'll never go away.

[slubillikens43]

Sion James for Duke is what we hope Amari can become

[billiken_roy]

56 minutes ago, willie said:

I am sort of with you on the physical defense but if they weren’t physical scores would all be in the 100’s. Players are that good at scoring. The plays I can’t stand is how they let bigs back down players in the paint. Why those bumps aren’t charges is beyond me ,but that’s how it’s called. 

I don't mind high scores.

I also greatly admire defenses that rely on quickness, hustle and just doing things right.  

I don't want to watch rugby.

[Bay Area Billiken]

Down goes Duke️

[OkieBilliken]

Go Gators!  I got to see their only home loss against Mizzou.    There was a very strange harassment/stalking/cyber stalking complaint against Coach Golden, during the season that made me think he was in trouble of getting axed.   He was cleared.   Travis Ford did hold Clayton Jr to six point his freshman year.  

[thatskablamo]

9 hours ago, Bay Area Billiken said:

Down goes Duke️

Listening to Raftery defend Flagg on the obvious over-the-back was pure idolatry worship from CBS. Man to man, indeed. Raftery makes Billy Packer sound sane. 

[WUH]

4 hours ago, thatskablamo said:

Listening to Raftery defend Flagg on the obvious over-the-back was pure idolatry worship from CBS. Man to man, indeed. Raftery makes Billy Packer sound sane. 

The play was unquestionably a foul.

The officials have a tough job.

It did not cost Duke the game.

[thatskablamo]

21 minutes ago, WUH said:

The play was unquestionably a foul.

The officials have a tough job.

It did not cost Duke the game.

Agree - but to listen to Raftery defend Flagg was akin to Verne Lundquist blaming the Zamboni driver for Scott Hamilton not winning the gold in Lake Placid in 80.